A SUCCESSFUL expansion strategy has put Dammam-based Zamil Steel in a dominant position in the industry, with a breakthrough web-based innovation now taking the company to new levels in efficient project management and execution.

Corporate marketing manager Hatem Turki says: “An online information management application named Live Enquiry System (LIS), introduced by Zamil Steel PEB a year ago, has proven to be very successful in managing and cutting delays in the execution of projects.
“The web-based LIS enables sales offices around the globe to access Zamil Steel’s database and extract information relevant to the progress of any of their projects. This includes information related to the fabrication status, delivery schedules and detailed shipping progress in addition to many dynamic information items. The system has eliminated the need to go through the traditional channels, which often hindered the flow of information and created unnecessary delays to customers.”
LIS, a fully in-house development, has been in successful operation since June last year and was considered as a breakthrough in the industry, he says, adding it has taken Zamil Steel to new levels in the information technology era.
“Effective management of information systems is necessary for all business organisations in view of rapid business expansion and a strong global presence in a highly volatile business environment,” Turki points out.
Founded in 1977, Zamil Steel is a global leader in the manufacture of pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) and the Middle East’s premier supplier of structural steel products and process equipment, transmission and telecommunications towers, building components and open web steel joists and decking.
It manufactures about 500,000 tonnes annually of fabricated steel products for low-rise and high-rise steel buildings and structures for diverse industrial, commercial, agriculture, aviation, entertainment and military applications and for the support of infrastructure and development projects. The company’s products are sold in more than 90 countries through an international network of dedicated sales and representative offices, certified builders, agents and distributors.
Zamil Steel comprises six business divisions, namely PEB, structural steel, towers and galvanising, process equipment, Canam Asia and Building Component Solutions (BComs).
Zamil Steel has grown to become a global leader in the manufacture of PEBs, today selling its products in more than 90 countries worldwide. Since its inception, Zamil Steel has designed, manufactured and supplied more than 50,000 PEBs to clients worldwide – from Venezuela, Panama and Mexico in the west to Australia, China and Japan in the east.
PEBs are commonly used as factories, warehouses, showrooms, distribution and sport centres, supermarkets, hypermarkets, department stores, cold stores, swimming pool enclosures, recreational facilities, wedding halls, office buildings, multipurpose halls, aircraft hangars, gas stations, car-parking shades and restaurants.
“They are well suited for any commercial, industrial or institutional facility that requires a sturdy and versatile one, two or three-storey structure. Furthermore, the company’s light steel accommodation solutions (known as prefabs) are widely used in applications ranging from worker camps to permanent clinics, schools and housing units,” says Turki.
Canam Asia is a joint venture between Zamil Industrial Investment Company (ZIIC) of Saudi Arabia and Steel Plus, which is a subsidiary of Canam Group of Canada. It is optimistic that output, sales revenues and export earnings will be increased by 10 per cent this year (see separate article).
BComs was created in 2008 by Zamil Steel as a dedicated division for building components to support the retail market with quality products and provide a sustainable service of retrofitting and maintaining Zamil Steel buildings.
In innovating and diversifying its products, BComs is now a major supplier of premium insulated sandwich panel consisting of two skins and a rigid polyurethane foam core. The exposed outer skin is roll-formed from steel or aluminium coils, whereas the inner skin is made up of the same material or an aluminium foil option.
“The continuous production on double conveyor-belt process adopted by BComs is considered as the most innovative process for manufacturing sandwich panels today,” says Turki. “The production process ensures the best mechanical properties of the insulant due to the strong adhesion of the foaming reaction mixture to both layers of the panel under the influence of heat and free-rise foaming pressure, in addition to a considerably higher bending resistance,” he explains.
Zamil Steel’s main factories are based in Dammam, while additional factories are located in Egypt, Vietnam, the UAE and India. More than 600 engineers are employed in its engineering departments in these countries.
Its commitment to serve at the local level has been proven by a network of 65 area offices located in 50 countries – which the company is looking to expand through a direct presence or through certified builders. These offices are well staffed and equipped to provide a quick and comprehensive response to customer inquiries, detailed quotations and proposal drawings and on-site support for ongoing projects, as well as extensive after-sales service.
Commenting on the future prospects for the construction in the region, Turki says: “The Middle East in general and the GCC in particular need to develop their infrastructure and industries even further. Therefore, I see great potential for the construction sector in this region, especially in Saudi Arabia, which represents the largest economy with the greatest need for sustained development for the coming decade.”
“We have noticed recently a healthy market recovery in all segments of industrial, commercial and institutional construction. In the short to medium term, we anticipate a steady growth of not less than four per cent annually in our markets,” he adds.